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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Motherhood Narrative

Image used with permission per Creative Commons Attributes License. Copyright belongs to "Fredrik Rubensson." No alternations made to the original image.

We are all writing a story. Like it or not, that story will be read. What is being written in the chapters called "motherhood" and "homemaking?" Too often only one portion of the story of motherhood and/or homemaking is shared. We're all familiar with presentations of either entity as blissful perfection or absolute mess. Neither instance moves us forward. We become bogged down and stuck in either position. Then, we get comfortable and stop craving continuance. We're missing a significant portion of the story. Every story is composed of a beginning, middle and end. The beginning often provides the background information that helps the reader understand the characters or situation. It prepares you for the middle portion of the story in which the action occurs. Afterwards, we see how the conflict is resolved as part of the ending of a story. It may conclude favorably or unfavorably. A good story will impact us in some way. We'll have gained a greater sense of character, wisdom or grow in our understanding of people and life. The same can be said of motherhood and homemaking. There's a beginning, middle and end to those narratives as well. Many times, though, we're provided only the beginning. The problems encountered are discussed to such an extent it begins to appear as though that is the complete story. "Life with children is a mess- You're a mess! You're children are a mess! You're house is certainly a mess!" How do we move on from here? We can't if this is the story.. Conversely, we're also presented with the ending of the story. We witness the woman and the home that "has it all together." Yet, we are unaware how that state came to be because all we see are the solutions. Again, the story is partial in its perspective and we're left incomplete. What is missing is the middle portion of the story. We're missing the action. What happened? How did it impact and influence the individuals involved (ie the family) or the setting involved (ie the home)? I think we're hesitant to divulge the middle portion of the story for various reasons. It's the portion that is in progress. It's also the portion that requires input, and that can be either action or inaction. What did we do? Did we do anything? We can't, or at least shouldn't, withhold the middle portion of the stories our lives are writing. This portion completes the narrative and give a clear picture of that which is being written. If we ever want the narrative of motherhood and homemaking to be of greater value than the perception, then we've got to be the ones to take that pen and write a new one. We've got to be the ones to share, to teach, and to guide others in representing these pursuits well. Are we taking ownership of that pen and paper? Are we actively training our children, managing our home, and growing personally? Or, are we turning away pretending those pages aren't being written and won't ever be read?

Eyes are watching. Ears are listening. What is your voice saying? What are your actions conveying? What is the narrative you are writing?Use the image below to share this post:(Copyright same as stated above with exception of alterations made including the addition of overlay and text)